Redskins hire lobbying firm in wake of senators' letter

Jun. 9, 2014
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FedEx asked the SEC for permission to keep the resolution regarding the Redskins off its 2014 proxy statement. The company argued that the proposal did not pertain to a significant policy issue. / Brad Mills, USA TODAY Sports

by Erik Brady, USA TODAY Sports

by Erik Brady, USA TODAY Sports

Washington's NFL club hired a major lobbying firm to represent it in the days after 50 U.S. senators sent letters in May to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell objecting to the Washington team name as a racial slur.

The team hired McGuireWoods Consulting, according to newly filed lobbying disclosure forms that listed "current and anticipated" lobbying issues as: "Discussions of team origins, history and traditions, Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and youth sports, activities of Original Americans' Foundation." The filing was first reported by Politico on Monday.

Four lobbyists are listed on the account, including Russ Sullivan, a former staff director for the Senate Finance Committee, and Lewis F. Payne, president of McGuireWoods, a former Virginia congressman and "one of the founders of the Congressional Blue Dogs, a coalition of moderate and conservative" Democrats, according to his bio on the company website.

The firm's mission, as stated on the site: "We empower organizations to shape public policy and public opinion to achieve their goals."

The team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. McGuireWoods said the filing speaks for itself.